What's My Approach to Therapy?
If you've been living with insomnia for months or years, you may find yourself wondering if you have the worst case of insomnia ever. If you try to talk to people who don't have insomnia about what you've been going through, they might have trouble believing how difficult it is for you to sleep, and express concern for your health. This can fuel the fear of not sleeping and make you feel even more alone. You may also feel like you have to do everything possible to protect your sleep, as if it's a fragile bubble that can be popped at any moment. It's so frustrating when you arrange your life around sleep, only to find that you still struggle more than anyone else that you know.
The truth is, insomnia is more common than you think, and it is treatable. In my practice, I use CBT-I, a highly effective therapy that is designed specifically for insomnia. Therapy for insomnia requires a commitment of at least eight weeks. Treatment is focused on helping you learn about sleep and insomnia in a way that helps you feel realistically hopeful about resolving insomnia, and then creating a collaborative plan for restoring your sleep. You do not have to stop taking medication before beginning treatment. I make sure to go at your pace, and to come up with a plan that works for you. It's easy to get discouraged when you have insomnia. It's crucial to have someone on your side who can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.